Council Of Europe Chief Concerned About Jailed Russian Activist

Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland said he has spoken with Russian officials about reports that rights activist Ildar Dadin has been tortured and beaten in prison.

Jagland said on November 3 that he told Justice Minister Aleksandr Konovalov via phone that he is concerned by Dadin's claims in a letter to his wife that he had been tortured and threatened while serving his 2 1/2 year sentence at the IK-7 prison in the northwestern town of Segezha.

Jagland, a former prime minister of Norway, urged Konovalov to carry out a thorough investigation of Dadin's claims and to work with the Council of Europe on prison reform for Russia.

Konovalov pledged to Jagland that a full and transparent probe of Dadin's situation would be conducted.

Dadin, 34, was the first person convicted in Russia of taking part in multiple unsanctioned protests. He received a three-year sentence in December that was later reduced by six months.

Meanwhile, Dadin's wife, Anastasia Zotova, said on November 3 that her husband is thought to have had a seizure on November 2.

The deputy head of Russia's prison service, Valery Maksimenko, said Dadin had fallen off a chair "in a fit" while being examined by doctors.

Russia's prison service said in a statement that no injuries were found on Dadin when he was examined by the doctors or when checked at a hospital the following day.